Aerial torpedo.



M. C. RDSENFELD.

AEFHAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED IIAY B. |918.

Patented Dec.16,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M. C. ROSENFELD.

AERIAL TGRPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED mw n, ma.

1,324,928. Patented Dec.16,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX C. ROSENFELD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AERIAL TOBPEDO.

Application filed May 8, 1918.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MAX C. RosENrELD,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the countyofSuifolk and btate of Massachusetts, have invented new and usefullinprovenients in Aerial Torpedoes, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to aerial torpedoes.

The object of the invention is to provide an explosive shell with meansto propel the same through the air a certain distance, said shell beingprovided with means to detonate the same after it has traveled apredetermined distance, or upon colliding with another body.

The invention also contemplates means for guiding the shell in itspassage through the The invention consists in the combination andarrangement of parts setforth in the following specification andparticularly pointed out in the claim thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an aerial torpedo embodying my invention, aportion of the su'iporting and guiding plane being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of thedrawings.

ln the drawings, 5 is an explosive shell consisting of a casing 6 filledwith explosive material 7, said shell being cylindrical in form andhaving a pointed end or nose S. propeller 9 is located at the front endof the shell and is fastened to a shaft 10 by which it is rotated. saidshaft being rotatably mounted in a bearing 11 at the front end of theshell and in a cap 12 at the rear end of the shell. A tube 13 surroundsthe shaft 10 within the casing 6 and to the rear end of the shell isfastened an auxiliary casing 1+i which incloses an intern al combustionengine 15. A tank 16 is mounted upon the top of the shell and isconnected by a pipe 16 to the carbureter of the engine.

A time fuse 17 is fastened in a suitable position, as, for example tothe casing and consists of a suitable timing device including a. clockmechanism which operates at a certain definite time to release a pinwhich strikes a cap 18 and explodes the charge within the shell.

A guiding and supporting plane 19 ex- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 16, 1919.

Serial No. 233,316.

tends over the top of the shell and is attached thereto by stay rods 20and 21. The stay rods 21 are provided with turnbuckles :22 whereby theymay be shortened or lengthened to lower or raise, respectively, the rearend of the plane 19.

A rudder 23 is pivoted at 21 to the auxiliary vcasing 14 and is adjustedthereon at different angles by means of an arm 25 pivvoted at 26 to saidrudder and fastened by a bolt 27 to the auxiliary casing 11, said boltextending through a slot 28 provided in said arm.

Beneath the shell 5 and attached thereto is a truck 29 consisting of aframework formed of vertical rods 30 and longitudinally extendinghorizontal rods 31. Upon said frame are journaled shafts 3:2 and 33 andupon these shafts are mounted wheels 3l and 35. The shaft 32 has weights3G adjustably mounted thereon and the hori` zontally extending members31 of the frame have Weights 37 slidably mounted thereon. The nf'eights36 can be adjusted longitudinally of the shaft 32 and thus balance thetorpedo laterally thereof, while the weights 37 can be adjusted upon thelongitudinal members 31 of the frame to balance the torpedolongitudinally thereof.

The general operation of the mechanism hereinbeforo specificallydescribed is as follows: The plane 19 is set at the desired angle bylengthening or shortening the rods Q1 by means of the turnbuekles 22.The torpedo is balanced longitudinally thereof by means of the Weights37 and laterally thereof b v means of the weights 36. The requisiteamount of asolene is placed in the tank 16.y the engine is started inthe usual manner, thus rotating the shaft 10 and the propeller 9. Whensuflicient speed has been attained by the propeller the device isreleased and starts in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, rolling alongthe ground at first upon the wheels 34 and 35 and gradually rising fromthe ground. due to the inclination of the plane 19. Enough gasolene isplaced in the tank 16 to carry the torpedo the desired distance. Whenthe gasolene has been consumed the torpedo falls toward the ground andthe shell explodes at the time for which the time fuse is set.

In addition to the time fuse 17, an impact fuse 38 is preferablyprovided` the same being fastened to the cap 12 in the rear of theshell. Said impact fuse is adapted to be detonated when the shellstrikee another object o1' when it strikes the ground so that in casethe time fuse 17 failS to operate or does not operate in'nnediatehY uponthe torpedo striking the ground or a building, or othei` object, theimpact fuse 38 will operate to explode the Shell.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire by LettersPatent to secure is:

An aerial torpedo having, in combination, an explosive shell, meane` todetonate Said shell after a predetermined definite interval of time,said means including, a clock mechanism, an impact fuse adapted todetonate said shell upon collision with another body, a propeller at oneend of said shell, an intei-nal combustion engine located at theopposite end 0i' said AShell, the shaft of said engine extendinglongitudinally through said shell and being fast at its front end toSaid propeller, a plane located above Said Shell 'adapted to supportSaid Shell in the air, menneto adjust the inclination of said plane, atruck frame located beneath said Lehell, wheels journaled on said truckframe and means to balance Said shell, said means including' weightsadjustable laterally and longitudinally on said truck frame.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto eet my hand in presence of twoSubscribing Witnesses.

NIAX (l. ROSENFELD. lVitneesee CHARLES S. Genome, SYDNEY E. TAW.

